Clairol Natural Instincts

The Lowdown: There was a time when coloring your hair at home was a real risk—not only were the results not guaranteed to be great, they were permanent. Natural Instincts was one of the first non-permanent haircolors (lasts through twenty-some shampoos) we can remember on the market, and has managed to stick around for a reason.

If you’ve never colored your hair before, Natural Instincts is super easy to use. Mix it in the applicator bottle, and apply to damp hair. Leave on for somewhere between 10-20 minutes, and rinse and condition. The result? Consistently good color, super soft shiny hair, and a little body boost for good measure.

The downside of Natural Instincts is that for the best result, you need to stay within a range of your own haircolor—so for dramatic transformations, you’ll have to go another route (we’d recommend the salon for anything drastic, natch). And, as someone who has used this product for long stretches, I’ve found that when used repeatedly over long periods of time, it doesn’t completely wash out anymore. But in general, if you’re of a mind to make more subtle haircolor changes (add a little red, tone down the brass) on a regular basis, Natural Instincts is a reliable option.

The Verdict: Yea. The color is in fact natural-looking, lasting, and cheap—even if you use it EVERY month, it’s less than $10 per application.